It seems 2021 had just one more piece of unwelcome news in store for payroll and HR professionals: UKC Kronos announced that they have been compromised by a ransomware attack and their systems may be offline for weeks.
UKG Kronos has admitted to being in uncharted waters, and is advising customers to research their options:
“While we are working diligently, our Kronos Private Cloud solutions are currently unavailable. Given that it may take up to several weeks to restore system availability, we strongly recommend that you evaluate and implement alternative business continuity protocols related to the affected UKG solutions,”
We empathise with our colleagues at Kronos and all businesses that are (in)directly affected by this, especially given the very inconvenient timing.
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- What is the best time and attendance alternative to Kronos?
- Comparing Kronos and Microkeeper
- Why should I look for a Kronos alternative?
- Kronos vs Microkeeper FAQ's
What's the best time and attendance alternative to Kronos?
There are plenty of companies in Australia that use Kronos to track their staff working hours.
If you're in that boat, and currently are looking for an alternative, there's a long list of cloud software alternatives to choose from.
Businesses with a large workforce (200+ employees) or those looking for integrated payroll, however, might be a bit more pressed for a solution that can handle all their demands.
For those businesses, Microkeeper is the ideal alternative to Kronos workforce management software, covering all features at a favourable price.
Comparing UKG Kronos and Microkeeper
UKG Kronos | Microkeeper | |
| Track, manage and control time and attendance data | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Configurable work and pay rules | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Employee scheduling | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Leave / absence management | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Job tracking | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Automated staff scheduling solutions (AI) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Mobile App | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Employee onboarding | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Super Employee Onboarding | ⛔ No | ✅ Yes |
| Full Payroll Engine | ⛔ No | ✅ Yes |
| Super Processing | ⛔ No | ✅ Yes |
| 📞 Customer Support | Basic included. Full support at extra cost. | Full customer support included. |
| 🪙 Pricing | Only available upon request | From $4 /user/month AUD |
| 🔒 No lock-in contract | ⛔ No | ✅ Yes |
| Independent reviews by Capterra | Ease of use ⭐ 3.9 | Ease of use ⭐ 4.1 |
| Customer Service ⭐ 4.0 | Customer Service ⭐ 4.1 | |
| Features ⭐ 4.0 | Features ⭐ 4.2 | |
| Value for Money ⭐ 3.9 | Value for Money ⭐4.5 | |
| 🏆 Highest Rated |
* Data based on information provided on Kronos website and software aggregators like Capterra and Software Advice.
Why should you look for a UKG Kronos alternative?
The current ransomware attack caused UKG to shut down some of its Kronos services, which might have forced you to look for a (temporary) workaround.
However, while looking for alternative payroll or time and attendance software can feel quite daunting, the potential benefits make it a worthwhile consideration year round.
- Budget - In a competitive market, choose a solution that can unlock short and long term value for your business, saving on costs without losing out on any of the functionalities.
- Flexibility - We don't believe in lock-in contracts, we understand you need to remain adaptable in the face of uncertain and rapid changes in workplace structures.
- Superannuation - Processing superannuation for thousands of staff members in just a few clicks? Microkeeper offers a super clearing house included in our software.
Kronos alternative FAQs
Q: Why do I need to find a Kronos alternative ASAP?
A: At the present time (December 2021) UKG Kronos is coping with the impact of a security reach. They've reported it may take several weeks to fully restore system functionality following the incident.
Q: Is there an alternative to Kronos without a lock in contract?
A: Microkeeper is a Kronos alternative that works with a month-by-month subscription. We stand by our product and offer you full flexibility.
Q: Is there a cheaper alternative solution to Kronos?
A: While Kronos doesn't share it's pricing publicly, businesses that have made the move from Kronos to Microkeeper often report sizeable savings. We're happy to have a chat, no strings attached, to see how much you could save.
Q: Is there an Australian alternative to Kronos?
A: While Kronos' head offices are in the United States, Microkeeper is fully owned and operated in Australia. All support runs from our Australian head office, meaning when you call us you'll always speak to someone on Australian soil.
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